Leadership of women and their economic empowerment in Uganda: A case study of Uganda Women Entrepreneur Association Limited

Abstract

The study was about, leadership of women and their economic empowerment at all levels, in the economic empowerment process. The study also set out to highlight the different factors that lifted or down played women economic empowerment. The Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association was selected as a case study, due to its vast economic activities relating to women and diversity, of its members in areas of Kampala and other parts of Uganda.

In this era of women emancipation, economic empowerment of women is a subject that cannot be ignored or underestimated, however it is a common perception amongst society today, were women are still stereotyped, as dependants and passive beings, who barely contribute, to the development process, with in the society.

The different methods of research that were employed to carry out this study were both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The quantitative method helped in analyzing data and tables, while qualitative methods were used to analyze views and literature. Content analysis of the questionnaire was purposively sampled. Were as group discussions were also carried out to get a wide scope of information.

The study findings indicated that leadership helped in empowering women, through engaging them in decision making and through considering them for top posts, in offices. Policies, to help women shoot up high in the economic empowerment , it was found out that, existed but, were not being put to effective use, so as to help the women. This proved the null hypothesis, as there being a significant relationship between leadership and economic empowerment. This also goes to show, that women empowerment can be realized given the right policies and initiatives through a people focused kind of leadership.

It was concluded that economic empowerment policies like domestic violence bills, marriage and divorce bills, the HIV programmes, and projects will clearly pave way for an upward spiral, for the emancipation of women economically.

Therefore the study recommended, that various women policies, like those above and laws, should be put in practice, so as to bridge the glaring economic gap, between women and men. Information sharing amongst the rural and urban women is recommended so as to become sensitized and independent. Lastly but not least, the conservative traditional norms should be dealt away with, in order to embrace change, which will economically develop the women both in Uganda and worldwide.